Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-02
Time passed on, and Richards ship

society.
Time passed on, and Richards ship
was looked for into pert.
A torn ar"se-"ne Of the most fear
ful tnat had ever been known upon
the coast Wr, cks were scattered far
and near, and those who had friends
at sea wore white frightened faces as
they listened TO the Wind Kings
ragings.
Molly lived several miles inland,
but her fancy depicted terrible scenes
of ships battling with the angry ele-
ment-, and Of drowning sailors, amid
which on" face was ever present-that
Of her sailor lover.
One night laundering rap came
at the door. Quaking the every limb
she drew on her garments, and crept
down to answer the summons.
1t was Cecil. lie was very grave,
an3 his clothes we're wet through, as
though he had been in the water.
"Come with me" he said to Molly.
"One yon love is near death. L fought
for his life with the waves, and after
| had succeeded in bringing him to
land, learned that it was Richard
Grahame, whose native shores had
bufeted the returning wanderer. He
is conscious, and calling for you"
Without a word Molly left him to
put on her wraps. She soon was ready
and seated herself in a wagon beside
Cecil. The ride seemed anunending one
but at lat it terminated.
Richards pallid face lighted up
with transient glow when he saw
her He put out his arms feebly, and
with a low cry Molly sank upon her
knees BY his side and rsined kisses
upon his lips. In that moment she
would have willingly given her life to
save the one so fast ebbing away.
After q while he rallied little, 80 as
to be able to talk to her. Unsel6sh
in his last moments as he had been he
thought of his darling's future more
than OF himself.
Molly" whispered the faint voice.
al meant to have made you so happy !!
But it is Gods will that should 90.
In future years you must not forget
me but do not ws;>s you to think Of
me sadly. / hSSr tried to do my du-
ty, aud | have q hope beyond the
grave Think Of me as one ut rest.
And Molly, you are too little fitted
to battle with the world to remain
ut a protection. Sometime, if u
man tries 10 win you for wife,
'ot remain single for my sake
: @onld make me happy to see you
athrly cared for. aud you'd not
nave = selfish influence over you from
M silent resting place-"
flliy's ttsars fell silently rs she
lis ned. but shey were not remorseful
drops. for she had been true to Rich
ard in her heart even if a bewildering
dream had come to her to WOO her
fro,a her duty to him. So those last
few hours were peaceful ones.
Richard died with his head pillow
ed upon her breast, and with his last
look fastened upon her tear wet face
It was many long months before
Cecil renewed His suit. With instinc-
tive deiieacy. he waited for time to
soften the shock which had rent his
darling's tender heart.
Then he CAM to her and pleaded
his cause so eloquently that Molly
could not refuse him. But it was y
chastened affection which filled her
heart. tempered at first with many
thoughts of him who had been strick-
en- down so suddenly in his young
manhood.
And Cecil, happy in his possession
Of hi, treasure. is not jealous Of the
dead. He often accompanies Molly
to Richards grave, and listens with
tender reverence to her rs she tells
him how noble and true he was in
heart and life.
Once she said to him gravely:
1--WE owe our happiness to him Cecil
for should have Teen true to his
memory through nv whole life, and
have remained single for hi. sake, had
he not willed it to be different. He
was unseltish to the last"
"May his mantle fall upon me" }"
was Cecil's answer, "and may be the
better man for what you have told me
of him. So his influence will live,
although his life was cut short"
And after years proved that his
wish came true, for his was name
which rang through the world, ap.
pended to noble, charitable deeds.
Whenever there was need Of aid,
his was the hand TO al mi mister boun-
ty.
SO one noble life ever influen ces
another.